As we approach an important moment in our organization’s history, I want to pause and reflect on where we have been and where we are going.
On January 9, 2026, the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will transform into two, separate cabinet-level agencies: the New Jersey Department of Military Affairs (DMA) and the New Jersey Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). Starting next week, you’ll receive the first DVA newsletter, followed by the first DMA newsletter the week after.
This transformation reflects pride in our team’s work over nearly four decades and the recognition that the missions of military readiness and veteran services can be enhanced with separate, focused teams.
This change is not a departure from who we are, it is an evolution made possible by what we have accomplished.
Over the past several years, our team has demonstrated what dedicated service can achieve for those we serve. Through complex missions, evolving challenges, and historic demands, our team has delivered results. We strengthened readiness, expanded access to services, and modernized how we support those who wear and have worn the uniform of our nation. That progress, built by our people, is the groundwork for what comes next.
Recently, Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill announced the leadership team for the departments moving forward, naming me as her nominee for Commissioner of the Department of Military Affairs and Vincent Solomeno as her nominee for Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs. I am grateful to the Governor-elect for the trust placed in me and our leadership team and remain committed to the work ahead.
Through this transformation, my focus remains clear. We will continue to build and sustain highly trained, professional forces capable of rapid deployment and mission success in support of state and federal operations. Acting Commissioner Solomeno and his team will strengthen how New Jersey serves its veterans and their families through dedicated leadership and focused advocacy.
While the structure of our organization has changed, what has not changed are our core values: professionalism, teamwork, and the commitment to public service that defined DMAVA’s daily operations. | 
